(Cambridge, Mass.) – The Dickinson women's squash team swept the bracket to win the E-Division of the College Squash Association Women's Team Championships at Harvard University.
The Red Devils opened with a 9-0 win over Colgate University in the quarterfinals on Friday afternoon. They turned in another strong performance on Saturday, posting an 8-1 semifinal victory against Washington University of St. Louis. Sunday's final was moved up to this evening to avoid weather issues.
Dickinson adjusted to the change, claiming the match, 6-3, defeating Northwestern University to earn the program's first Division title in its first season of competition.
First-year Stuart Lemay (Harwich Port, Mass./Westover) and senior Casey Merbler (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park) swept the first and second flights, each winning all three matches in straight sets. Lemay battled to a 16-14 first set win in the semifinal and survived a 12-10 second set in the final.
The Red Devils also went 3-0 in flights six through nine. Betsy Vuchinich (Pittsburgh, Pa./Shady Side Academy) won all three matches in straight sets, surviving the third of the final, 13-11, to keep that streak alive.
First-year Freddie Bancroft (Old Greenwich, Conn./Greenwich) had a strong showing in the quarterfinal and outlasted her opponents in a pair of four-set wins to earn points in the semis and final. Ashley Doyle (Readfield, Maine/Kents Hill School) and Meghan Shippe (Baltimore, Md./Roland Park) each went 3-0 in the eight and nine flights to help secure the title for the Red Devils.
Sophomore Merritt Davis (Baltimore, Md./Garrison Forest) played a great match before falling 3-2 in the championship. She came back to win the second and third sets, but Alyssa Brewer rallied for the win (11-8, 9-11, 9-11, 11-4, 11-9). She went four sets in the semifinals as well after winning her opener (11-3, 11-2, 11-4).
The Red Devils improve to 6-8 on the season. They will compete in the CSA Individual Championships at the end of the month.
